While I am all for much closer military ties with the US, we must be keep our interests and unique environment and capabilities in mind. Not all the systems being offered to India necessarily make sense. Sometimes, there are more optimal alternatives out there. This one, though, I am all for.

"While AEW&C [airborne early warning and control] has been identified as a future mission well suited to the Osprey's performance profile and specifications, it is not a mission performed by current customers and it would be premature to speculate on what specific equipment would be utilised for that mission."

Business speak for "If you got the money we can design and build it for you".

India could get Technological superior aircraft from the USA thanks to the friendly relations these days.But India wont be stupid enough to rely on the US alone for its Military needs considering sanctions can stall things.The decision should be considering INDIAs security Interests alone & nothing else.

Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 3):rely on the US alone for its Military needs considering sanctions can stall things.

As long as India doesn't let the Chinese peek at the purchased military hardware or sell nuclear or missile know-how to the North Korean, or shelter groups that are waging war against the US, India will not see any sanctions from the US.

Quoting india1 (Reply 2):So we have the Herc, the C17, the P8, the Apache, the F35, the Osprey... and add to that this - a missile shield!

And here's a piece for the Lexington Institute... Possibly adding the Stryker and Littoral Combat Ship to list.

India has acquired or is in the process of buying a range of advanced U.S. systems including C-17 and C-130 transports and P-8 maritime patrol aircraft. In addition, the U.S. is exploring possible sales of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Stryker wheeled combat vehicle and the Littoral Combat Ship to India."

Quoting bikerthai (Reply 4):
As long as India doesn't let the Chinese peek at the purchased military hardware or sell nuclear or missile know-how to the North Korean, or shelter groups that are waging war against the US, India will not see any sanctions from the US.

India has less love for China than does the US, that I am sure. But the V-22 is just cost prohibitive. If you can get over it's exorbitant initial price, (which is more than an F-15 Strike Eagle,) what really kills the premise of buying even a small fleet of Ospreys are its operating expenses that make traditional rotary winged aircraft look downright cheap.

Because the IDF gets its budget from the US taxpayer, they might be willing to buy into a small fleet, maybe one or two squadrons worth, but even the Indian army, I just don't see them buying into something that costs so much to operate (although they can probably afford to.)

When you need to operate high in the Himalayas, there is not much of an option.

Maybe they can reduce the price by having final assembly in India. If they just need a high altitude lift, they may also keep cost down by not getting all the "nice-to-have" tech toys that comes with the U.S. birds.

Quoting india1 (Reply 2):So we have the Herc, the C17, the P8, the Apache, the F35, the Osprey... and add to that this - a missile shield!

It makes so much sense! We spend dozens of billions trying to get a committee to spec (never mind build) the mother of all super-weapons (again and again and again!) , and you cherry pick the stuff that works.

All of them have service ceiling in the 14-18K ft range. In comparison, the HAL Dhruv Mk 3 has a 28K ft ceiling. The Indian Army's requirements were a service ceiling of ~6500m (21325ft), in order to maintain forward positions at Saltoro and Siachen Glacier theaters. If they wanted a heavy helo to use in that theater they'd have the same requirements for it. Right now they use light (Cheetal) and medium (Dhruv) helicopters to service those posts.